A Kona judge upheld all charges Friday during a preliminary hearing on the case of a California man who allegedly transported drugs from the mainland to Kona on Easter.
A Kona judge upheld all charges Friday during a preliminary hearing on the case of a California man who allegedly transported drugs from the mainland to Kona on Easter.
Hawaii County Police arrested Gerald Wrischnik, 40, on April 5 at Kona International Airport.
Officers in the Area II Vice Section served Wrischnik with a search warrant after he deplaned from a United Airlines flight. The search warrant included an X-ray of his body at Kona Community Hospital, where three bundles of drug-like substances were found, police said.
Detectives later charged Wrischnik on Tuesday with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree attempted meth trafficking, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputy Public Defender Wendy DeWeese represented Wrischnik in Judge Margaret Masunaga’s courtroom at the 3rd Circuit Court in Kealakekua Friday. She attempted to get the conspiracy charge dropped, claiming the state failed to prove probable clause but Masunaga upheld all charges following testimony from three Hawaii County Police officers.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sheri Lawson called officer Marco Segobia to the stand first who explained the chain-of-events.
He said the unit became aware of Wrischnik’s travel plans from Oceanside, California, to Kona and awaited for his arrival at the airport with a search warrant. Police identified him from his description and a hat that read “Oceanside” on his head, Segobia said.
While at the airport, officials became aware that Wrischnik was traveling with another man, he said. There has been no word on whether another individual has been charged in relation to the alleged crime.
Segobia said following the arrest, Wrischnik told him they were “just a couple of dudes trying to make a couple bucks.”
Officer Eric Reyes also testified Friday. He said he identified the three bundles that were wrapped in a condom-like material sealed with electrical tape after Wrischnik expelled them from his body following the X-ray.
According to a police report, officials recovered 175.6 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin and 4.6 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine.
Wrischnik’s bail is set at $160,000 and he will head to court again at 11:30 a.m. April 23 at the Division 4 Court in Kona.